JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel has put its first hydrogen-powered bus into operation, the country's Energy and Infrastructure Ministry said on Thursday.
The launch marked a step toward expanding cleaner transportation and hydrogen technology in Israel, the ministry said in a statement.
The project, it said, will help assess the potential of hydrogen fuel cells in transportation, particularly for heavy vehicles where long travel ranges and fast refueling are important.
The Audace 1050 bus is a joint project between Chinese automotive technology company Allenbus and Brazilian coachbuilder Marcopolo.
Allenbus supplied the hydrogen powertrain and handled overall engineering, while Marcopolo provided the bus body, interior, and structural design.
The vehicle incorporates core Chinese energy technology, including 700-bar high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, offering a driving range of up to 600 km on a single fill, alongside a high-voltage battery system developed by Chinese car battery giant CATL.
According to the ministry, the bus can be fully refueled in under five minutes, and its fuel-cell system emits only clean water.
The project, the ministry said, is part of broader government efforts to develop hydrogen infrastructure, promote alternative energy technologies, and cut emissions from heavy transportation. ■
